Fracture frame



March 23 1926.

J. M. GRAHAM FRACTURE FRAME Filed May 9 ,r 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 23 1926.

Y J. M. GRAHAM FRACTURE FRAME Filed My 9 1925 fifz 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnmmtgz .Patented Mar. 23, i926.

UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFicE;

TAKES LI. G, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

FBAGTURE FRAME.

Application led Hay 9, 1923. Serial No. 637,739.

nection with the lower limbs, and has for one of its objects to provide a frame capable of adjustment to render it available for both limbs, the device involving certain novel features of construction, which adapt it to fit the conformation of the pelvic girdle in a manner conducive lto effecting maximum comfort for the wearer.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means in a device of the class described, for firmly holding the fractured leg and thigh in a manner to be arbitrarily extended to any desired degree, and be conveniently accessible for examination and dressing purposes.

pointed out as this specification progresses, the invention. consisting in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts here-` inafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a fracture frame y embodying my invention, the foot receiving shoe not being shown.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the lower portion of Figure 1, showing the footy and ankle support or shoe attached thereto.

`ligure 3 is a perspective view of the under side of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shoe removed from the frame.

Figure 5 is a plan viewof the hip engaging ring.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the upper portion of Figure 1.'

Figure 7 is a side elevation of Figure 6' looking in the direction indicated by the ariigw. 8 f F 6 i re is a top view o igure Figure 9 is a sectional view on line' 9.-9 of Figure 6,the turnbuckles being omitted.

Figure 10 is. a sectionalview on line` 10-10 of .Figure 1.

`Figure -11 is al ,sectional view l.on Ime `spline is flat and Figure 12 is a rear -viewof a torso'showing in dotted the hip pad.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, my improved fracture frame comprises a lower unitary frame section generally desig# lines the normal position of `nated by the number 1, and anmupper composite frame section 2.

The lower frame section upwardly extending, struts or lowerframe Joined together intermediate their ends by a horse shoeshaped brace 6. The members 3 and 4 are preferably integrally joined together by a horizontally disposed cross bar across the top of which extends at right angles a dovetail shaped spline 8. y The preferably' ofx uniform width and thickness and has downwardly and inwardly sloping sides, and is preferably welded to the cross bar at a point short of its free'end, and extends the -member 5, and is preferably an integral comprises three slightly diverging part thereof. A pairjof vertically directed v bolt holes 8'. Other objects and advantages willv be screw threadsy 6', upon each of which is threaded a `tu'rnbuckle 10. -Extending- Are-` membersA 3, .4, and .5,

rearwardly to spectivelyin straight alinement with the members y3, 4, and 5 are .the extension rods or members-11,12, and 13, which form a part of the frame section 2,. each formed at itsl lower end with leftfhand screw threads 14, and at its upper end with right'hand screw so f threads 15. The lower ends of the rods have threaded engagement respectively with the turnbuckles'lO, so that a turning movement of the turnbuckles to the right will bodily project their respective rods lengthwise upward, thus increasing the length of the fracture frame. The rod members 11, 12, and 13,

withr their respective turnbuckles` in connection respectively with the members 3, 4, and 5, form what may be termed threel straight extensible struts.

Removably threaded, one on the upper end of eachof the rods 11 and 12, is a bifurcated terminal member or fitting 16, each fitted with a pivot pin 17 extending at right angles to and axially intersecting the axis of its respective rod. The 4inner opposite faces,

18 of the bifurcation of each terminalmember are preferably oonvexed and', adaptedto receive between'them a lug 19 through which noV the pin 17 loosely w members 16 to swing to a slight degreel at right angles to the plane of the lug, as indicated by dotted lines at 20.

The upwardly diverging rod 13A has threaded engagement with a bifurcated terminal member 21, the bifurcation thereof being formedl by `oppositely disposed vertical ears 25, and being adapted to slidably receive a relatively wide, thin lug 22, the latter being formed with a curved slotted opening 23, extending concentrically about the center point 24. A screw bolt 25 extends freely through one of the ears 25 and through said slotted opening and has threaded engagement in the opposite ear 25', whereby, when the screw bolt is firmly driven home, the lug 22 may be firmly clamped in the desired position. The planes of the lugs 19 and 22. are arallel, that of the latter extending vertical y and transversely at right angles to the spline 8.

The lugs 19 and 22 are preferably an in-I tegral part of a ring 26, the former being disposed symmetrically about the line 27 extending at right Aangles to the lug 22, as shown in Figure 5. The extension members 11 and 12 are of different lengths, as is clearly shown in Figure 1, the variations being such as to place the ring in a plane disposed at an angle which inclines from the rear extension member 13 forwardly, and from the extension member 12 laterally, as is best il- Alustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings,

wherein the axis designated by the numerals 28,-28 (Figure 8) is inclined to the left,

while the vaxls 27 27 is inclined to the right. Inasmuch as the lugs 19 and 22 are disposed 'symmetrically about the axis 27-27 of the ring, and inasmuch as the slotted opening 23 of the lug 22 is concentric with the point 24 (which point is coincident with both axes 27-27 and 28-28), it is obvious that the ring may be oscillated about the center 24to move the axis 28-28 to the position deslgnated by the line 28-28 (to which position the ring may be adjusted when the splint Y is to be used for the left leg), without changment, respectively,

ing the lateral distance between the pivot openings 17 and the vertical axis 29-29 of the frame. The openings 17', therefore, remain, to a very close approximation, in alinebers 11 and 12, regardless of whether `the ring is adjusted for the right or left leg, thus enabling .the members 11 and 12 to be interchanged.

As stated in thevfore oing, it is essential that the rin oscillate a out the point 24, asy

distinguishe from oscillating about the pivot 25, in which latter case, the ring would be bodily7 swung to the right or left beyond either of the members 11 or 12,'thev 'votsr 717 thus being, thrown widely out of a inement with said members.

Owing e as 'ep-wad. ifa' earn aeriawith the extension memdrawings. The lugs 19 are thus thrown respectively slightly out of vertical alinement with the members 11 and 12, but to a negligible degree, as shown by the line 30-30 in Figure 8. As the members 11 and l2 are relativel thin and slender they will spring sufficient y without making any perceptible difference in the energy required to turn them. Obviously, the ring has bodily swung, as indicated in Figure 8, slightly to the left about the member 13 (which turns in the turnbuekles) to place the lugs in offset relation with respect to the line 3030.

For the purpose ofclamping the foot to the lower section of the frame, I provide a suitable shoe 32, having preferably a metallic sole 33, on the under side of which are a pair of spaced, longitudinally disposed lugs 34, having their adjacent faces properly inclined to slidingly receive the spline 8.

The sole has suitably threaded bolt holes 2), which latter extend loosely through the openings 8 ofthe spline. The shoe is thus removably secured to the frame in vertical alinement with the brace member 6, the means for securing the foot including an ankle strap 35 which is projected through a link 36 to form a loop through which latter the frame member 5 extends. The strap is adapted to be buckled around the leg, as shown in Figure 2, to restrict its forward movement. An instep strap 37 and a toestrap 38 serve to firmly strap the foot to the sole of the shoe 33. The shoeis preferably formed with overlapping fiaps 38' and 38 to render it available for several sizes of feet. Referring to Figure 12, wherein is shown the pelvic girdle of a torso, 39 designates the crestor highest point of the convex gluteus maximus muscle or buttock, while 40 designates a laterally 'directed crease at the base thereof. I have found that great comfort is extended the wearer by having the ring cross the rear of the thigh in Aa'n outwardly and upwardly directhe thigh with the abdominalwall. The

ring is lltably padded, throughout its cir cumference, a section of which is shown at 42, and may be termed an obliquely positioned hip pad.

In operation, the limb is projected through the ring and the foot lirmly strapped in the shoe. The fracture may now be brought into proper healing alinement by adjusting the turnbuckles, 1t b'elng understood that the hip pad abuts against the trunk of the body, while the struts are extended. When it isdesired to adjust the frame for use on theleft le the numbers l1 and 12 are disengaged from the turnbuckles and terminal members 16, and interchanged, the screw 25 having been previously loosened to permit the lug 22 to slide in the member 21.

I. claim:

l. In a device of the class described, comprising a frame extending from the fregion of the pelvis to and across the sole of the foot, means for releasably attaching the foot to said frame, means for arbitrarily extending said frame, including two removably attached extension rods of different lengths located at the front of the frame and a shorter rod spaced rearwardly therefrom and located midway therebetween, a ring adapted to receive the thigh of the leg and abut against the trunk of the body, a laterally slidable pivotal connection between said ring'and said shorter rod, and a detachable connection-between each of said extension rods and said ring whereby said extensionl rods may be detached and interchanged.

. 2. In' combination with a' fracture frame comprised in part of a plurality of similarly constructed upwardly diverging detachable struts disposed to form front and rear frame members, the free upper ends thereof terminating at different levels at points in close proximity to the juncture of the leg with the trunk of the body; of a ring surrounding the leg at said juncture, detachable similarly ,constructed connections between the front struts and said ring, and av laterally slidable pivoted connection between said ring and said rear frame member.

3. In combination'with a fracture frame comprised in part of a plurality of up-l struts constructed in a manner to enable the ring to be oscillated. bodilyabout a point coincident with its center, when detached from said detachable connections.

v 4. In a fracture frame adapted to receive the leg and having a hip pad adapted to engage with the trunk of the body and including means constructed and located in a manner to enable the frame to be extended when the same is attached to the leg, said frame being constructed with an open, unobstructed front, and a foot receivmg shoe insertable through said opening front and including strap members whereby the foot may be strapped firmly in the shoe, a dovetailed spline forming part of the frame eX- tending longitudinally of the front when the frame is positioned on the leg, and a slideway formed 0n the sole of the shoe adapted to slidably receive said spline.

5. In a fracture frame for legs, having a shoe adapted to releasably hold the foot, a ring adapted to surround the leg and engage with the trunk of the body, and extensible front and rear struts between said shoe and ring, the `upper portion of said struts being detachably connected to said ring and frame, the detachable connections of said front struts including lugs disposed 'in parallelism on said ring at an acute angle to `the plane thereof and disposed symmetrically about an axis intersectmg the center thereof, and bifurcated members, one for each of the front struts, adapted to receive said lugs, the inner faces of the birfurcation being of concave formation, for the purpose set forth.l

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature. 1 JAll/[ES M. GRAHAM. 

